Should Art Education Be Funded In Public Schools

Section Two: History: Since public schools across the country have faced budget cuts in the past decade and a half, a common cost-cutting measure is to lessen the funding for arts education, prioritizing what are deemed more essential subjects such as math, reading, and science. Yet in fact, the current iteration of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, also known as the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, lists that the arts are among the core academic subjects, requiring all schools to enable all students to achieve in the arts and reap all the benefits of a comprehensive arts education. Yet the economically prioritized curriculum is still draining the sources from these imperative programs leaving instruments, paintbrushes, and other artistic pieces in closets to collect dust, because no one will be there to teach or use them. Most impacting in the history of

Music, dance, drama, painting and drawing teachers try to incorporate academic lessons into their art classes. Students can be learning both art and academic topics at the same time. This can benefit the students extremely because it will not only engage the students in helpful activities, but it will keep them interested in learning the different topics. For example, schools may play music in the halls to introduce the students to culture that may help them to be open to learning new things in all of their classes. The painting teacher may have her student’s paint a picture of a historical event they learned about in their history class and discuss it in front of the class. The music teacher may ask the students to pick a certain song that reminds them of a book they read in their English class and explain to the class why the song reminds them of that certain book. The dance teacher might assign a dance to the students that will get them thinking of a subject to write their paper on for writing class. The possibilities are endless as to how to mix academics into the arts. It is important to do so to keep the creative juices flowing in the young minds of the students in public schools. By participating in an arts course, students are fueling their cognitive developments and are

How would you feel if one of your favorite subjects was cut from school? You would feel disappointed or sad right? That is how I would feel if fine arts programs were cut from my school. For me, the arts are an outlet of my soul where I can explore my passion, and express my creativity. There are some school officials that say cutting arts funding would save money that could go towards better funding, but some neuroscientists say cutting arts funding might be a bad idea, since the arts have some very important benefits such as, improved motor skills and better language development. Also with cut funding, we would have more unemployed workers since all the teachers who taught those programs would be laid off and would lose their jobs. There are many disadvantages and advantages of cutting the arts, but I believe fine arts programs should not be cut from schools.

Art is a subject that lets kids be creative and use their imagination or skill. Art is a subject that only a few are truly talented at it. Therefore, why make kids that are not going to be successful at it take it. It should be a choice not so much a mandatory class. The state board of education should not add art to the high school curriculum, but rather as an elective.

Elementary, middle and high school all have one thing that never changes between the transitions of children’s lives and that is the arts that are in their electives. States all over have debated whether or not electives should be cut from school curriculum, however despite the disagreements schools are finding ways to make the arts stay. Some schools are troubled with the threats of budget cutting. The result? Instead of cutting the program all together, they are accommodating for that class to be taught by the general teacher. (http://education.seattlepi.com/) Middle schools are adding extra classes to their curriculum such as the elective benefiting from the extra time teachers have to work as a team to help the students understand the curriculum better. (edweek.org) In order to complete high school students are required to have a certain number of elective credits depending on which state they live in. I believe the arts in grade school benefit the children for life after

Labor relations lawyer and writer for the National Federation of State High School Association, Dave Dickson, answers this in his article ¨Fine Arts Should be Spared from School¨ Districts´ Budget Cuts. He states that the main rationale for cutting arts programs for students K-12 is a result of budget cuts: ¨When cutting programs, superintendents strive to cut those that have the least impact to learning and that create the least amount of controversy. Wrongly, superintendents often recommend cutting some of the fine arts programs.¨ Programs which strive to keep students from delinquent behaviors, and offer life skills that the traditional curriculum fails to do are being cut as a result of school boards deeming them unnecessary. He continues to say, ¨School boards must analyze very carefully the long-term ramifications of eliminating the fine arts programs. A school district without the arts leaves many students without an outlet for the creative capabilities and without options for expression of their talents.¨ (Dickson). School Districts tend to cut the arts without fully analyzing the repercussions that come with cutting them. Overlooking students who need attention the most and cutting programs that enable them to search who they are as people, giving them individuality in a system that doesn't. Parents in Chicago rely on after-school programs to ensure their children's safety and wellbeing. Rachel Norwood, the mother of Justice Watkins 10, exclaims her gratification of programs like the arts. It not only keeps Justice out of the streets and away from danger, they offer him a place to be himself and explore who he is as a grown adult. (Flores). Removing programs like the arts from the curriculum or extra-curricular activities, will not only hinder childrens’ ability to achieve their goals, but it will also lead to an increase of children being put in harm's

But few districts in each State are living up to the requirement. With the overwhelming budget cuts, statewide, the first department to be hit is the Arts department. This is a result of years of damage explained by Tyleah Hawkins of The Washington Post in his article Will less art and music in the classroom really help students soar academically? Hawkins goes on to say that “Although arts and music programs tend to be seen as less important than reading, math or science, research has shown that arts education is academically beneficial.” Meaning, a broader outline of academics will help the student excel in all areas of school.

Curiosity seems to be one of the greatest assists possessed by human kind, there seldom seems to be a child who doesn't ask the question "why?" frequently, but so often school as the innate ability to limit children's curiosity. Public education tends to be overlooked, most people don't see it for what it is, a way of nourishing and expanding the developing minds of youth, and a way of passing down culture and traditions. The education children receive is a toolkit to help them solve problems later in life, but the majority of the time students do not obtain the well-rounded education they need to prosper. Due to a multitude of different reasons, mostly attributed to budget, art programs are being cut out of curriculum. The reduction of budget

Fine arts are one of the first things that get cut when school budgets are getting tight. Administrators even question why we have a fine arts program if it’s not beneficial to the curriculum. You need fine arts to improve creativity and mindset for whatever you may want to do, and help kids see a way to have a place to belong and get in where they may feel left out or otherwise rejected. Research shows that low poverty areas that have fine arts programs keep kids occupied and out of trouble. Fine arts should be kept in schools because it keeps kids out of trouble, improved school results, and the outcome of fine arts involvement.

Lets paint a picture together. Blank walls, silent rooms, and shy students are what is brushed on the canvas. Our picture is a result of the limitations put on the powers of artistry. Staci Maiers validates that “the school play, the marching band, the drama club, the student art show - they’re usually highlights of a student’s education” (1). “. . . [Fine Arts] can connect people more deeply to the world and open them to new ways of seeing, creating the foundation to forge social bonds and community cohesion,” (qtd in Smith 2). Maiers expresses, “Because fine arts education typically is not considered core curriculum or included on high-stakes standardized test mandated by federal requirements, music, art, theater, and dance usually

The fine arts are a very important aspect in everyday life. The building you are sitting in, the music you listen to, and even the car you drive were created by some sort of artist. When school districts begin to cut art classes, they are taking away the opportunity for kids to become interested in these arts. If children don’t become acquainted with fine arts, then most likely none will go into that job field. The fine arts are essential for a developing brain and essential for everyday life. Cutting art and music classes will be detrimental to the youth today because it is necessary for a well-rounded education.

Imagine the reaction if a school announced it were to cut it’s science program? There would likely be an uproar. How could anyone even think of cutting a core subject? However, there is a core subject that is cut quite frequently, the arts. According to the Federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act arts is a “core academic subject”. Many schools, however, feel the need to cut arts, as there is not enough money, or it’s simply just not important enough to keep. This is not true. Art and music education is not only not as expensive as people believe, it also provides skills needed for the job market and can help increase test scores. These are reasons why arts and music should be options in public schools.

Many students believe classes in the arts are an experience for every student . Art class is not required at John I. Burton unless the students do not join Spanish class. John I. Burton does not have any classes in the arts that are required other than art, which is still up to the student to accept or not. The courses in the arts classes should not be a required in school whereas electives are not necessary for everyone to take, and classes in the arts are no exception. School already has the required classes for the students to take and they are . Especially if the students are going for an advanced diploma. I believe classes in the arts should not be required because students are already busy enough, not everyone enjoys them, and there are enough required classes in high school.

Most people are not aware of the advantages children have in after taking classes in the arts. These classes teach kids to be more

It seems like every other day the news is reporting that yet another school has cut their fine arts programs. When money gets tight, instead of decreasing the budgets for things like the abundance of sports teams, many school districts have turned their backs to the fine arts, and justified their decisions by stating that the arts do not benefit the students, or that it is more important for the school to focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, or STEM, programs (Scott). From band and choir to theater and art, courses like these are becoming scarce and students across the country are feeling the impact. Wes Scott, middle and high school band director at Orchard Farm School District in Saint Charles, Missouri, says, “The fine arts